Ellee Seymour

The England-South Africa rugby match isn’t the only important game being played this weekend. My youngest lad James will be playing football in The Netherlands with his team, Soham Town Colts FC U15s.

They are heading for Heemskerk on a four day trip and have two games planned against Zwaluwen Vooruit U15s and RAVA Houtwijk U15s. They will also have a tour of Amsterdam Arena - pity they can’t play there, wouldn’t that be thrilling!

This is James’ second trip to The Netherlands. I took him there three years ago on a surprise visit after he completed his Key Stage 2 SATS exams at primary school, aged 11.

A couple of years before, I had taken his brother David on a surprise trip to Barcelona to celebrate the end of his exams, and to mark a new era at secondary school, the beckoning of young adulthood.

I remember asking James where he wanted to go when it was his turn, he told me Amsterdam, that he wanted to visit the Anne Frank Museum as they had been studying her very moving diary at school.

So I made a mental note of this and, without any warning, arrived at his school one Friday lunchtime to pick him up for the afternoon flight. He was stunned to see me there unexpectedly. And I was not prepared for his adverse reaction when I told him where we were going. He had since forgotten all about Anne Frank, he had made plans to meet up with friends after school that day and, most importantly, was looking forward to wearing his team’s new football strip for the first time that weekend.

Meanwhile, I had his bag packed at home, and eventually persuaded him to come back with me for a quick change of clothes. Once inside the house, he told me to wait in the car and promised to join me shortly.

Instead, he swiftly locked the front door and refused to come out. It took much cajoling through the letter box to finally persuade him. Phew.

James told me it was too big a surprise, he only likes small ones. I’ve had to tread carefully with his surprises ever since.

I doubt he will take any persuading to join his team mates on the coach early tomorrow morning as they head for the ferry. I’m confident that James’ team - as well as our great rugby players - will do us proud, that there will be two winning teams returning home jubilant.

Do you think James looks like a junior Johnny Wilkinson? The thought has crossed my mind a few times. Although James plays rugby for his school team, it’s a game I watch him play nervously. I remember him being carried off the pitch with stud marks on his face, I’m a very anxious spectator when my lad plays this sport.

*James’ school friend Joe and his dad have red hot tickets for the rugby final and have booked a ferry crossing this evening, and will then drive to Paris. Joe admits they might be tempted to sell if they get offered a good price, especially as they are not hardened rugby supporters. Well, they say every man has his price. I must admit I would be tempted if I could get £4,000 a piece.

I have just issued a press release for Euro-MP Robert Sturdy warning of the wide-ranging impact of the controversial Pesticide Directive which will be voted on by the European Parliament in Strasbourg next week. It is a directive which will affect all our daily lives and is causing Robert much concern.

As it stands, the proposals could lead to food shortages in the European Union, and even restrict the use of pesticides used by rose growers in their front garden if it borders a public footpath, as so many do.

It wants to ban the use of weed killers in public places, and also wants farmers to notify their neighbours in writing every time they use pesticides on their land. How feasible is that? And who is going to monitor this?

Robert’s view is that the EU already has adequate legislation to protect human health and the environment, that these proposals are not backed by scientific data.

This is the press release we have issued:

Euro-MP Robert Sturdy has warned that proposed restrictions on the use of pesticides could lead to a severe reduction in the quantity of food produced by farmers in future years, resulting in food shortages throughout the European Union.

As proposed, it will also ban the use of weed killers in public places, and farmers will have to notify their neighbours in writing every time they use pesticides on their land.

Further proposals with far reaching effects include setting buffer zones around all areas where pesticides are used, such as private gardens, public greens, school grounds, playing fields, golf courses and allotments, as well as water courses likes streams, rivers and lakes, to protect against contaminants in water.

Mr Sturdy will next week vote against the 1^st reading of the controversial Pesticides Directive at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Pesticide producers and farmers are concerned that the proposals are heavy-handed and will lead to the disappearance of many substances which have been used safely by farmers for many years and which farmers need to protect their crops from disease.

Although it is aimed at protecting human health and the environment from dangerous or excessive use of pesticides in agriculture, producers fear the draft new rules could end up forcing dozens of substances out of the market "based purely on political perception", with no scientific proof.

As a farmer himself, Mr Sturdy believes the directive is unnecessary as present legislation adequately covers the safety issues concerning pesticides, that there is already more than sufficient protection within the water framework and good codes of practice to protect our waterways. He said these new laws would create considerable difficulties for an already devastated industry at a time when they needed support more than ever.

Mr Sturdy has warned that proposals to set targets to reduce the use of pesticides by 25% in five years, with a 50% reduction in 10 years, would almost certainly lead to a reduced crop yield for farmers, resulting in shortages of food and biofuels.

Mr Sturdy said:

“What disturbs me the most is that the recommendations are not based on scientific evidence, yet these proposed restrictions could have a devastating impact on all our communities, reducing food production, as well as causing unnecessary bureaucracy and confusion in our communities. What will this mean for gardeners who want to spray their roses in their front gardens to protect them from greenfly if it borders a public footpath?

“If the proposals adopted by the Environment Committee are upheld, EU agriculture and the production of food and biofuels will be seriously threatened. Plant Production Products are essential for crop protection and production, and without them we will not be able to meet demand for food and fuel.”

Due to the complex nature of the pesticide reports, it will undoubtedly return to parliament for a second reading when Mr Sturdy will continue to propose any necessary amendments to protect the interests of farmers, consumers and the general public.

*The pic on the left shows the most beautiful rose garden I have visited at Houghton Hall in Norfolk, home of Sir Robert Walpole, our first prime minister. The other pic shows me visiting Stow Hall, also in Norfolk, on their gardens open day.

Update 20 October: My press release makes today’s Daily Mail.